Photo courtesy of YMT Lion Dance/Leslie Seto
University of Guelph-Humber alum Tyler Mac-Fung (Media & Communication Studies class of 2025) has dedicated more than half his life to the art of lion dance – a traditional Chinese dance form that’s rooted in martial arts, featuring stunning, massive lion costumes.
Mac-Fung is embracing and connecting with his culture while pursuing a career in media. He’s part of the Yi Mo Tong (YMT) Lion Dance team, where he performs and creates social media content at events (like ROM After Dark, Raptors 905’s Lunar New Year game, weddings, etc.). Tyler believes incorporating culture into creative and professional endeavours is paramount because it should be a “proud part” of who you are.
“Lion dance is special because it has always meant something to me. It’s where I get to spend time with people I really enjoy being around,” he said. “During the Lunar New Year, we have 40 to 50 shows in one month, and we push through it together. Lion Dance is about family, friendship, and community to me.”
Tyler, now 22 years old, began lion dancing just over a decade ago. Around Lunar New Year, at that time, members of his kung fu school were performing lion dances at restaurants and when they needed additional dancers, he stepped in. Since then, Tyler has been enamoured with the art.
That passion for lion dance followed him to Guelph-Humber. During his third-year, Tyler worked on a photojournalism project with a friend who was part of the YMT team, which inspired him to join.
“I ended up getting really close to the team and falling in love with the dance even more,” he said.
In his final year at Guelph-Humber, he and his group completed his Emerge capstone project – a social media marketing campaign for YMT Lion Dance. During the project, he gained real-life experience developing a content strategy that prepared him with tangible workforce-ready skillsets for producing social media content.
“The Emerge project is my most proud piece of content that I've made for YMT,” he said. “The Media & Communication Studies program helped me prepare in the way of production, using cameras, editing software to create professional posts.”
Upon graduating, Tyler travelled the world in summer 2025. He visited Portugal, Greece, Italy, Spain, and France, documenting his adventure by sharing daily experiences on his personal social media platforms and reflecting on the voice and presence he wants to cultivate as a content creator. Following that, Tyler embarked on a journey to Singapore to visit a friend and assist him with content for his social media business.
“There I was, learning quite a bit behind the scenes from a social media company, and I did a lot of filming and event photography for them,” he said of his experience in Singapore. “I learned a lot about the work ethic in Asia and also in production and small entrepreneurship as well.”
Travelling and being exposed to new cultures taught Tyler that Toronto is not all there is, while also deepening his appreciation for home.
“I did learn a lot in my in my experiences overseas and I really don't want to put any of it to waste. I want to apply as much as I can at home,” he said.
And back home is where he’ll be this Lunar New Year. Tyler and YMT Lion Dance will be performing at a Raptors 905 game to celebrate the holiday.
The University of Guelph-Humber wishes those who celebrate a happy Lunar New Year!
Like Tyler Mac-Fung, find your passion. Learn more about the Media & Communication Studies program at the University of Guelph-Humber here.
